Hello Tweets,

Today my mother and I birded the Ocean Shores area,despite the very dismal birding conditions consisting of strong southerly winds and very low clouds that produced occasional light rain showers at times during our entire visit. We checked a few main key locations such as the Ocean Shores jetty,the Ocean Shores Game range,the outer beach between Driftwood Drive and Butter Clam Street,and Bill's Spit along with a few minor locations. Due to the weather conditions birding was quite minimal,but we managed to locate a few notable species for the day with some effort made. The most notable highlight at Ocean Shores was a single female Black Scoter observed from the Ocean Shores Game Range,while searching unsuccessfully for Snowy Plovers breeding activity. Perhaps the Black Scoter may oversummer along with larger numbers of both Surf and White-winged Scoters that usually persist at several location during the summer at Ocean Shores. A few species of migratory shorebirds were encountered at Ocean Shores as well including the following species:

Semipalmated Plover
6 at the Ocean Shores Game Range

Greater Yellowlegs
2 at Cyber Lake(accessed off of S.R.115 south of Ocean City S.P. near Ocean Shores)
1 at the Ocean Shores STP

Western Sandpiper
30+ along the ocean beaches accessed from Driftwood Drive(Ocean Shores)
8 at the Ocean Shores Game Range

The Ocean Shores Jetty was the most productive as far as species observed with good numbers of many species of waterbirds,primarily alcid species such as Rhinoceros Auklets and Common Murres in very good numbers observed off the jetty in variable sized groups. Other waterbird species at this location included small numbers of both Red-throated and Pacific Loons,as well as good numbers of Surf Scoters with 6 White-winged Scoters that were noted and up to 80 Sooty Shearwaters observed flying offshore from the jetty in relatively rough water. Heermann Gull and Caspian Tern numbers were quite as noted within the mouth of Grays Harbor and from the general tip of the jetty and 3 offshore Brown Pelicans observed flying to the south off the Westport Jetty.

On our way home my mother and I checked the Hoquiam STP as cloudy and windy conditions continued,where in addition to 6 Greater Scaup that we observed at the Ocean Shores STP 3 were noted at this location along with 8 Lesser Scaup and 2 female Buffleheads,which may all oversummer at both these listed locations. Continuing on our way home we stopped along Hwy.12 at the Satsop River boat luanch(east of Brady along the Satsop River),where a few additional species of the day were noted including:

1 Peregrine Falcon
2 Spotted Sandpipers
1 Western Wood Pewee
3 Western Scrub Jays
17 Bushtits
3 Warbling Vireos
1 male Black-headed Grosbeak

The lingering Western Grebe was again observed at the east end of Vance Creek Co.Park observed along Hwy.12 near Elma.


Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net

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